Qualifying begins for Feb. 1 election

Qualifying ends Friday

Qualifying for the February election began Wednesday with a bevy of candidates vying for eligible seats in New Orleans municipal races, including mayor of New Orleans, city council seats, Orleans sheriff, coroner and more.

Candidates officially began signing up for the election at the Clerk of Court Office at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Qualifying ends on Friday.

Former Orleans Sheriff Charles Foti has stepped up to put his name on the ballot to battle current Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman for the seat. Orleans Parish School Board member Ira Thomas was on the list of qualifying candidates, as well as Quentin Brown.

Arthur Morrell, the current Clerk of Criminal District Court qualified Wednesday for the seat he holds. No other names qualified as of Wednesday afternoon.

Other positions that will be up in the election include the Orleans Parish Coroner’s seat, which is currently held by Dr. Frank Minyard. Democrats Vincent Culotta Jr. and Dwight McKenna qualified for the seat Wednesday. Minyard is also running to hold the seat.

Current New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will battle NAACP New Orleans Chapter President Danatus King in the upcoming mayoral race.

Other races in the upcoming election include Councilmember at Large Division 1 and 2, Councilmember District A, District B, District C, District D and District E.

Kristen Giselson-Palmer announced last week that she would not seek to hold her District C seat in the upcoming election in order to spend more time with family. Jacquelyn Clarkson will vacate her at-large seat due to term limits, but announced her bid for the District C seat on Tuesday. Democrat Nadine Ramsey was the other candidate on the list of qualifying candidates for the District C seat as well.